Passports with Purpose Reaches Out with Water.org

I first learned abut Passports with Purpose when I went to TBEX this year. Since I love opportunities to combine travel with volunteering, I was intrigued.

After listening for a few minutes about what they do, I took a brochure and filed it away with all the other stacks of info I gathered from that conference. They were always in the back of my mind, but I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it.

I have since read more on their program and decided to write about them during their 5th year bringing in fundraising to help people all over the world. Each year, they help out a different non-profit organization.

This year the focus is on helping Haiti by building wells in their country through Water.org. Passports with Purpose does this with the help of sponsors (i.e. Expedia.com) and travel bloggers to get the word out. This is my contribution!

Why water?

In 2010, to support Blog Action Day, I wrote a blog post about water concerns that other countries are faced with on a regular basis. As a U.S. citizen, lacking access to clean drinking water is not something I really have to think about. After I wrote this post, I thought about it. The research revealed how much we waste and how clean water is highly coveted in so many parts of the world. So much so, the people are willing to walk miles and miles just to get a few gallons of potable water.

Haiti is no exception. After the recent earthquake, obtaining access to clean water has been exacerbated for Haitians. Sanitation conditions are significantly poor in many parts of Haiti.

According to Water.org, 4 million people lack safe water. Part of Water.org’s goal is to provide access to safe water using research and geographical surveys. Also part of their purpose is to increase awareness of the risks of unsanitary water and incorporating better hygiene practices.

Why Donate ThroughPassports with Purpose?

Passports with Purpose is helping increase the awareness of the water stresses in Haiti among other places in the world. You certainly can help directly through Water.org. However, Passports with Purpose is offering a prize entry for each $10 donation. Some of the prizes include travel gear, clothing, gift certificates, electronics, hotel stays. These are all provided through dozens of travel bloggers. If you like to travel, this is a great way to donate and get the opportunity to pick up some cool travel gear.

As a travel blogger myself, I love when I see opportunities to reach out to communities in need using the blog platform. I hope to participate next year. In the meantime, please head that way and consider a $10 or more donation – Passports with Purpose 2012.

I grew up as an eighties child, so one of my first memories of the land “down under” is a place where women glow and men plunder. Of course, at that time, I had no idea what Men at Work meant by that phrase. I’m not sure I even do now. Around that same time, […]